What felt like a proper summer’s night with the obligatory midges it was a good one for fell racing and Calder Valley Fell Runners. Newly joined and old hands alike, turned out in force to race the local Hebden Bridge race last Thursday.
Joe Crossfield & Gayle Sugden (Photo By Tod Harriers)
The 9.5km race, organised by Tod Harrier, climbs from the park and through the woods to the open fell before reaching the high point of Stoodley Pike. It then descends across Erringden Moor before the runners retrace their steps back to the park via Wood Top Road.
A fast start saw young guns Jack Denton and Martin Howard take the lead on the first climb but they were overtaken by the eventual race winner Joe Crossfield (48mins 7secs) who is coming back to form to take the win from Wharfedale’s Christian Holmes by 17 seconds. With Denton placing 3rd and 1st under 18 and club champion Mark O’Connor sealing 8th place the team prize was well and truly secured for the Calder Valley lads.
Gayle Sugden and Jo Buckley started the race wondering how their legs would feel after having raced the tough Lakeland Duddon Valley at the weekend. They must have recovered well as Sugden took the win in a time of 55 mins 27 secs with Buckley placing 3rd in just 6 seconds over the hour. Lindsey Oldfield followed her team mate to take 4th and again the team prize went to the Calder Ladies.
It was a first time out for a fair few of the newly joined members who did well to finish the race in a respectable time but more importantly they had a smile on their faces.
Full results available here.
http://www.todharriers.co.uk/hebden_bridge/hebden2015res.htm
